03/11/2019

A Dangerous Collaboration (Veronica Speedwell #4) by Deanna Raybourn

Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell is whisked off to a remote island off the tip of Cornwall when her natural historian colleague Stoker's brother calls in a favor. On the pretext of wanting a companion to accompany him to Lord Malcolm Romilly's house party, Tiberius persuades Veronica to pose as his fiancée--much to Stoker's chagrin. But upon arriving, it becomes clear that the party is not as innocent as it had seemed. Every invited guest has a connection to Romilly's wife, Rosamund, who disappeared on her wedding day three years ago, and a dramatic dinner proves she is very much on her husband's mind. As spectral figures, ghostly music, and mysterious threats begin to plague the partygoers, Veronica enlists Stoker's help to discover the host's true motivations. And as they investigate, it becomes clear that there are numerous mysteries surrounding the Romilly estate, and every person present has a motive to kill Rosamund...ebook, 336 pagesExpected publication: March 12th 2019 by BerkleySource: Publisher

Four stars: Another delightful installment in a series with tantalizing romantic chemistry, sophisticated characters and suspenseful mysteries.

After Veronica returns a bit out of sorts after a five month trip away from London, she is disappointed that Stoker seems aloof. He didn’t even write her while she was away. Granted, she did tell him not to write her, but still. When Tiberius asks her to accompany to visit an old friend on a remote island with the promise of attaining rare butterfly specimens, Veronica jumps at the chance. The one hitch is that she must pose as Tiberius’ fiancée. The two set out, leaving Stoker behind, only to find that he decided to join them on the sly. When they arrive at the island, things are not quite right. Their host, Malcom, is desperate to find out what happened to his bride who vanished three years ago on their wedding night. Can Stoker and Veronica help solve the case?

What I Liked:

In my opinion, I think this is a series that continues to get better and better with each and every installment. I love the mysteries, the intelligent characters, the unconventional relationship between Stoker and Veronica that tantalizes readers with the promise of romance. This is a sophisticated series for readers who want strong characters and solid mysteries.

Veronica continues to evolve with each and every book. I love that she is sharp witted and unapologetic when it comes to conforming with the ideas of how a Victorian woman should behave. She is uninhibited by societal constraints, and she doesn’t care what others think. So refreshing to have a strong female lead is this era.

The mystery in this one is suspenseful and exciting. I was constantly guessing as to who the culprit was, and I was wrong each time. I was shocked when the perpetrator was unmasked. I didn’t see that coming. Brilliant!

I enjoyed seeing Tiberius and Stoker spend time together and work through some of their differences. There are a couple of hilarious scenes when the brawl and pick at one another that made me giggle.

The chemistry between Stoker and Veronica remains a tantalizing dance of seduction and buildup. However, there was finally movement in the right direction. There is a perilous scene when Stoker does something that made my heart sing. I wanted more more more! I can’t wait to see how things move from here.

The ending is terrific. The threads for the main mystery are completed, there is romantic development and there are exciting hints for the next mystery. I am thinking a Jack the Ripper mystery???

And The Not So Much:

I love that this series is smart and sophisticated, and I appreciate the author’s attention to detail and the exorbitant amount of research that has gone into this series. That said, the one thing that drives me a bit crazy is the extensive use of thesaurus words and archaic vocabulary. This is a series that I highly recommend one reads inebook format so you can look up all of the unfamiliar words. The author uses many terms that are pertinent to the era, which most readers won’t understand.

The scene in the water was brilliant, and I was breathless waiting for the reunion, and then when it happens it is cut short. Seriously, are we ever going to get to that golden moment?? Argh!

A Dangerous Collaboration is the fourth book in an exciting Victorian series. I love the intelligent characters, the thrilling mystery and the amazing chemistry between the main characters. If you want a smart series, this is one to try. I am more than eager for the next installment.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.

Comments

A Dangerous Collaboration (Veronica Speedwell #4) by Deanna Raybourn

Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell is whisked off to a remote island off the tip of Cornwall when her natural historian colleague Stoker's brother calls in a favor. On the pretext of wanting a companion to accompany him to Lord Malcolm Romilly's house party, Tiberius persuades Veronica to pose as his fiancée--much to Stoker's chagrin. But upon arriving, it becomes clear that the party is not as innocent as it had seemed. Every invited guest has a connection to Romilly's wife, Rosamund, who disappeared on her wedding day three years ago, and a dramatic dinner proves she is very much on her husband's mind. As spectral figures, ghostly music, and mysterious threats begin to plague the partygoers, Veronica enlists Stoker's help to discover the host's true motivations. And as they investigate, it becomes clear that there are numerous mysteries surrounding the Romilly estate, and every person present has a motive to kill Rosamund...ebook, 336 pagesExpected publication: March 12th 2019 by BerkleySource: Publisher

Four stars: Another delightful installment in a series with tantalizing romantic chemistry, sophisticated characters and suspenseful mysteries.

After Veronica returns a bit out of sorts after a five month trip away from London, she is disappointed that Stoker seems aloof. He didn’t even write her while she was away. Granted, she did tell him not to write her, but still. When Tiberius asks her to accompany to visit an old friend on a remote island with the promise of attaining rare butterfly specimens, Veronica jumps at the chance. The one hitch is that she must pose as Tiberius’ fiancée. The two set out, leaving Stoker behind, only to find that he decided to join them on the sly. When they arrive at the island, things are not quite right. Their host, Malcom, is desperate to find out what happened to his bride who vanished three years ago on their wedding night. Can Stoker and Veronica help solve the case?

What I Liked:

In my opinion, I think this is a series that continues to get better and better with each and every installment. I love the mysteries, the intelligent characters, the unconventional relationship between Stoker and Veronica that tantalizes readers with the promise of romance. This is a sophisticated series for readers who want strong characters and solid mysteries.

Veronica continues to evolve with each and every book. I love that she is sharp witted and unapologetic when it comes to conforming with the ideas of how a Victorian woman should behave. She is uninhibited by societal constraints, and she doesn’t care what others think. So refreshing to have a strong female lead is this era.

The mystery in this one is suspenseful and exciting. I was constantly guessing as to who the culprit was, and I was wrong each time. I was shocked when the perpetrator was unmasked. I didn’t see that coming. Brilliant!

I enjoyed seeing Tiberius and Stoker spend time together and work through some of their differences. There are a couple of hilarious scenes when the brawl and pick at one another that made me giggle.

The chemistry between Stoker and Veronica remains a tantalizing dance of seduction and buildup. However, there was finally movement in the right direction. There is a perilous scene when Stoker does something that made my heart sing. I wanted more more more! I can’t wait to see how things move from here.

The ending is terrific. The threads for the main mystery are completed, there is romantic development and there are exciting hints for the next mystery. I am thinking a Jack the Ripper mystery???

And The Not So Much:

I love that this series is smart and sophisticated, and I appreciate the author’s attention to detail and the exorbitant amount of research that has gone into this series. That said, the one thing that drives me a bit crazy is the extensive use of thesaurus words and archaic vocabulary. This is a series that I highly recommend one reads inebook format so you can look up all of the unfamiliar words. The author uses many terms that are pertinent to the era, which most readers won’t understand.

The scene in the water was brilliant, and I was breathless waiting for the reunion, and then when it happens it is cut short. Seriously, are we ever going to get to that golden moment?? Argh!

A Dangerous Collaboration is the fourth book in an exciting Victorian series. I love the intelligent characters, the thrilling mystery and the amazing chemistry between the main characters. If you want a smart series, this is one to try. I am more than eager for the next installment.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.